Device for operating car couplers



Nam 9 9 192. 1,606,539

A. E. SMALL DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR COUPLERS Original Filed 8, 1924 jj m my AfifiUJ E m 12.71

Patented Nov. 9, 1926..

. 3. UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

nn'rnun n. SMALL, or OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQR'IO UNION METAL rnonuors COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLInoIs, A QORPQRATIQN F'DELAWARE.

DEVICE FOR R iNG sw ms I Original application filed October 8-, 1 92 Serial No. 742395. pividqd and this, p n a v n filed March 9. 1925. Serial K 14' 2 v This particular invention relates to what is generally known in the art as a rotating type of uncoupling device for car couplers and comprises an operating rod revolubly mounted on the car with brackets'or in any other convenient manner, which rod is usually bent downwardly at the outer end to form a handle. and is bent outwardly at its inner. end to form a crank projecting over the coupler lock lifter. The standard vertical plane coupler has a knuckle pivoted to the coupler head and provided with a tail. behind which the lock is placed. The lock litter protrudes through and above the coupler head and is provided with a horizontally positioned eye. This lock lifter eye is 1 in diameter and its axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal center of the car. This size and position has been determined by the American Railroad Association and is standard for the majority of couplers now in service.

My invention resides in the connection between the crank of the operating rod and the eye of the coupler lock lifter. When the handle is raised the rod is revolved and the crank is thereby raised which unlocks the coupler by raising the lock lifter.

The coupler moves backwardly and forwardly longitudinally of the car in buffing and draft and also moves sidewise in rounding curves, etc, and the connection between the coupler and the operating rod must permit such movements without the component parts becoming disengaged from each other or from either the coupler or the operating rod. It is frequently necessary to uucouple cars when they are coupled together and in contact so that it is impossible to throw the knuckle of either coupler. To meet this condition couplers are designed to assume a lock set position wherein the lock lifter can be raised from behind the tail of the knuckle and retained in such a position by means within the head of the coupler independent of the operating rod. This allows the operating rod to fall close to the lock lifter. To accommodate such a movement the. connection between the operating rod crank and the coupler must foreshorten or have a sliding engagement with either the operating rod or the coupler.

Another object is to provide a connection which may be hooked into the eye of the coupler lock lifter with the hooked member connected to the crank of the operating rod by another member which .permits it to adapt itself to the various service movements oi the coupler but prevents it from becoming disengaged from the lock lifter 1n service.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a railway car with my invention applied thereon.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a form of my device with a non-rotative connection to the operating rod. I

,In a railway car the cou ler operating rod 1 is mounted on the end si 1 2 by brackets 3 and has a. handle 4 at its outer end and a crank arm 5 extending over the coupler. The lock horizontally disposed eye 9. My invention resides in a connector for the crank arm to the lock lifter.

The connector comprises a hook member which is inserted through the eye of the lock litter and a bar member is then threaded into it so as to close the open portion of the hook. The bar member is then nonrotatively attached to the operating rod so as to prevent it from unscrewing. The operating rod is then mounted upon the car. In certain forms the nou-rotative feature is independent of the operating rod.

The longitudinal movement of the bar may be restricted by stopping the threads at such a point on the bar that it cannot be threaded into the hook further than a pre determined amount. The bar has a non rotative attachment with the operating rod 1 which prevents it from unscrewing or backing out of the hook 31, but'this attachment also preferably provides a relative sliding arrangement between the operating rod and the bar. ment between the bar and the operating rod may be used and come within the scope of this invention.

The bar passes through one arm 54L of the hook 51 and has a threaded engagement 52 with the other arm 55. This gives assurance that the bar will close the open portion 53 of the hook.

This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 742,395, filed October 8, 1924.

I claim Any non-rotative attach- I lifter 7 of the coupler 8 has a l 1. Ina release rigging forajcar coupler, the combination of an opeiatlng rod, a

coupler look lifter having an eye, a hook engaging said eye provided with two arms, a bar passing through both of said arms having a threaded engagement With one of said arms, said bar having an operative connection with the operating rod, and means to' pievent'the rotation of said bar.

In a release rigging for car coupler,

the combination of an operating rod, a coupler lock lifter having an eye, a hook engaging said eye provided with two arms, and a bar passing through both of said arms having a threaded engagement with one of said arms, said bar having a non-rotative engagement with the operating rod, Where by said bar and said hook are retained in Propel relative relation. i 1

ARTHUR EfsMALL. 

